In a day marked by escalating protests, Iranian retirees, including teachers and telecommunications workers, demonstrated across the country to demand overdue payments, improved living conditions, and justice. The protests were met with a violent crackdown by security forces, particularly in Tehran, where teachers were attacked with pepper spray.
Teachers Protest in Tehran
On the morning of Monday, January 20, retired teachers from the graduating class of 2022 gathered outside the Ministry of Education in Tehran, blocking Qarni Street to voice their grievances. Their primary demand was the payment of 60% of their retirement bonuses, which had been delayed for 17 months. Protesters chanted:
- “This much injustice, no nation has seen before!”
- “A high-income country—what has become of you?”
- “An incompetent minister—resign, resign!”
The demonstration turned violent when security forces intervened, using pepper spray to disperse the crowd. Witnesses reported that several retirees suffered injuries to their eyes and throats. Despite the aggressive tactics, the teachers continued their protest, shouting, “Shame on you! Shame on you!” in defiance of the crackdown. Protesters made it clear they were not mere troublemakers, stating, “We are teachers, not thugs!”
Retired teachers from across the country, including Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan, joined the protest, displaying nationwide solidarity. This marked the ninth major demonstration by retired teachers in recent months, with past protests also met with governmental indifference or suppression.
January 20—Tehran, Iran
Families of SMA patients rally in front of the health ministry to protest the shortage of vital medicine.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/PTvFFcFQz0— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 20, 2025
Nationwide Protests by Telecom Retirees
Simultaneously, retirees from the telecommunications sector staged protests in at least 14 cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Kermanshah, Ilam, Tabriz, Sari, Rasht, Zanjan, Hamedan, and Khorramabad. The retirees demanded overdue payments and protested what they described as systemic corruption within the management of the Telecommunications Company of Iran, particularly its ties to the Setad Ejraiye Farmane Imam (Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order) and the IRGC Cooperative Foundation.
In Tehran, protesters chanted:
“Only on the streets can we reclaim our rights!”
In Kermanshah, they directly criticized government institutions, shouting:
“Setad Ejraiye has taken over telecom and plundered our rights!”
Protesters emphasized their resilience with slogans such as:
“A retiree will die but will never accept humiliation!”
Security forces attack the peaceful protest of retired educators in Tehran.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/f9iXxTqYLk
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 20, 2025
Wider Context of Labor and Social Protests
Monday’s events are part of a broader wave of protests by retirees and workers across Iran. In addition to the teachers and telecom retirees:
- Workers of Chooka Wood and Paper Company in Rezvanshahr, Gilan Province, staged their third demonstration in two weeks, demanding months of unpaid wages and better conditions.
January 20—Ilam, western Iran
Retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) resume rally to protest corrupt policies by regime-affiliated managers and demanding higher pensions and other basic needs.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/2l5gtwEY4U— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 20, 2025
Significance and Implications
These demonstrations underscore growing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the economy, particularly among retired workers who face financial insecurity due to unpaid pensions and delayed benefits. The targeting of retirees—a vulnerable yet resilient demographic—indicates the depth of frustration in society.
The simultaneous protests across multiple cities highlight a level of coordination and determination that is challenging for authorities to suppress. The violent response in Tehran and other cities suggests that the government is increasingly reliant on force, but this strategy risks exacerbating public anger and emboldening future protests.
As economic grievances continue to mount, the likelihood of further demonstrations, strikes, and civil unrest remains high, presenting a significant challenge to Iran’s political establishment.